Redundant Transmission Path Fault Detection via Inductive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical arrangements with redundant transmission paths lack simple and effective means to detect defects or faults, which is critical for safety-critical systems like airbag power supplies, as they are prone to interruptions from broken wires or corrosion.
Innovation Solution
An electrical arrangement with a redundant transmission path using a magnetic core with a primary conductor and a secondary winding, where the secondary winding is inductively coupled to the primary conductor, allowing for inductance-dependent measurement signals to be evaluated against a fault threshold to distinguish between fault and non-fault states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a magnetic core with primary conductor and secondary winding is used for fault detection, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic core is introduced as an intermediary component to enable inductive coupling between the primary conductor (one of the connecting lines) and the secondary winding. This mediator allows fault detection through magnetic field interaction without requiring direct electrical contact or complex wiring modifications to the redundant transmission path.
2Loss of energy
If the primary conductor has few winding loops to minimize interference, then loss of energy is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detection system uses an asymmetric winding configuration where the primary conductor has few winding loops (1-3) to minimize energy loss, while the secondary winding has many turns to provide sufficient measurement signal. This asymmetric design balances the conflicting requirements by optimizing each winding for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of winding turn ratio between primary and secondary windings. By having the secondary winding with significantly more turns than the primary conductor, the system compensates for the low inductance of the primary conductor, maintaining measurement precision while keeping energy losses minimal.
3Loss of information
If the secondary winding has greater number of turns than primary conductor loops, then measurement signal strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex active sensing electronics with a passive inductive coupling mechanism. The secondary winding with multiple turns generates a measurable voltage through electromagnetic induction from the primary conductor, substituting complex signal processing hardware with a simpler electromagnetic field-based detection approach.
4Ease of operation
If impedance transformation is used in the transformer, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic core transformer structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides impedance transformation for signal matching, enables inductive coupling for non-contact detection, and offers magnetic shielding. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, ultimately simplifying the overall device despite the apparent complexity of the transformer structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables efficient detection of defects in redundant electrical transmission paths with minimal interference to the system's function, allowing for condition monitoring and detection of gradual deterioration without requiring energization of the lines.
Implementation Method 1
A secondary winding with a greater number of turns than the number of winding loops of the primary conductor. The primary conductor and the secondary winding are strongly inductively coupled via the magnetic core.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electrical arrangement (1) with a first electrical device (2), a second electrical device (3), a redundant electrical transmission path (4) with two parallel-connected electrical connecting lines (L1, L2) between the two electrical devices (2, 3), and means (MK, W1, W2, 5) for detecting a fault condition of the redundant electrical transmission path (4), wherein the means comprise a magnetic core (MK) with a primary conductor (P) having at least one half-winding loop (W1) formed by one of the two connecting lines (L1, L2), and a secondary winding (W2) with a number of turns (N2) greater than the number (N1) of winding loops (W1) of the primary conductor (P), and a diagnostic device (5) for evaluating an inductance-dependent measurement signal of the secondary winding (W2), wherein the diagnostic device (5) is configuredThe invention relates to comparing the inductance-dependent measurement signals (LM) of the secondary winding (W2) with a reference value, in particular a fault threshold, that can be used to distinguish between a fault state and a non-fault state of the redundant electrical transmission path (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting a fault state of the redundant electrical transmission path of the electrical arrangement.